Page 93 of Behind the Bars

“Waiting for you. How’s TJ?” he asked, taking the bottle of whiskey and pouring it into the twoglasses.

“He’ll be okay,” I said, sitting down across fromhim.

“What about you? Are you okay?” He slid me theglass.

My hands wrapped around it, and I shrugged. “I’m alwaysokay.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, but between you and me…are you really,though?”

I grimaced and swirled the whiskey around. “He could’vedied.”

“Hedidn’t.”

“Buthe—”

Jason reached across and placed a hand on my forearm. “He didn’t, buddy. He’s stillhere.”

I nodded slowly.He’s stillhere.

“I c-can’t even remember the last time I saw him before today,” I confessed, my chest tight. “How shitty isthat?”

“I think we’re all just doing the best we can, brother. Don’t be so hard onyourself.”

But how could I not? I’d almost lost one of the closest people to me, and I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d seen him, the last words we’d spoken. TJ had spent his life taking care of my family, and I walked away from him as if it werenothing.

He could’ve died, never seeing meagain.

“Don’t worry about yesterday, Elliott. You were given another chance. You can still show uptomorrow.”

I frowned, shooting back the whiskey. “You can gohome.”

“Meh.” He shrugged. “I kind of already made myself comfortable here. Plus, Kelly hates my snoring.” He nudged my arm one last time. “Are you okay,Elliott?”

“No.” I shook my head, and for the first time in years, I spoke the truth. “Nottonight.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Jasmine

When morning came,both Elliott and Laura were back bright and early. TJ was in and out of being awake for a few hours, and he no longer needed the oxygen mask, which made mehappy.

“A welcoming party for little ol’ me?” TJ remarked, lying helpless in the hospital bed. His speech was a bit slurred—the doctors had warned us about that—and he looked so tired. Seeing him that way made my stomach knot up with fear. His eyes were slightly open, and I noticed a small shake in his left hand, but I tried my best to not reveal myconcern.

“You scared me, TJ,” I said, walking over to him and kissing hisforehead.

“You scared all of us,” Lauraagreed.

“Even the dark shadow standing far away in the doorframe?” heasked.

We all turned to see Elliott, who was keeping his distance. His hands were stuffed into his dark jeans, and there was hardly any emotion to be read on his face. “Evenme.”

TJ opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words,he began to cough, making us all hurry to his side. He shook his head, saying he wasokay.

“Just take it slow,” Laura instructed. “Son, can you get that cup of water on the windowsill forhim?”

Elliott walked by me, slightly brushing my arm, and my soul began toburn.

I shook my head, trying to force the nerves away. I turned back to TJ as he sipped the water. “I was getting nervous you weren’t going to makeit.”

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